I'm trying to start using some SQL Server - SMO functions to write some VB.Net code to manage SQL Servers. I have SQL Server 2008 Express loaded on my workstation and Visual Studio 2003 for my development platform. When I try to create a reference in my VB project, I go to references->Add Reference and browse for SMO .dll files and no matter which files I chose, I get the same error:
A reference to 'C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\SDK\Assemblies\Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo.dll' could not be added. This is not a valid assembly or COM component. Only assemblies with extention 'dll' and COM components can be referenced. Please make sure that the file is accessible, and that it is a valid assembly or COM component.
Since these are Microsoft .dll files, I don't understand why they are showing up as invalid and according to Microsoft documentation, I am reading that tells me to do just what I am doing, this should just work.
Does anybody have any advise for me on how to resolve this problem?